September 29 DVD Roundup

Big releases this week: “Away We Go,” “Monsters vs. Aliens.” Reissues include “The Dark Crystal,” “Fireproof,” “Labyrinth” and “Wizard of Oz.” A few less TV shows this week, but there’s still enough.

Usual rules apply: synopses are taken from the press releases, snarky commentary is extra, and preview links go to Apple.com. And just in case you were wondering, the DVD prices are the listed retail prices. You can get them cheaper if you buy at discount stores or online.

John Krasinski and Maya Rudoph star as a couple anticipating the birth of their first child. They cross America to find the perfect place to raise their baby. Quirky comedy ensues. Extras: making-of featurette, green filmmaking featurette, commentary. BD adds BD-Live capacity.

Baby Einstein: World Animal Adventure

Baby Einstein/Disney, 35 minutes, $19.99

Latest installment of the popular series using classical music and brightly colored animals to teach toddlers.

CSI: NY: The Fifth Season

CBS Video, 1,063 minutes, $71.41

Third incarnation of the popular CSI series with Gary Sinise as the top cop gets its 5th season box. Also available in the box set Seasons 1-5 for $220.98.

The Dark Crystal

Sony, 93 minutes, PG, $27.95 (BD)

The peace-loving Mystics are seeking to overthrow the evil Skeksis and take back control of their planet. Jen, a Mystic, is looking for the missing shard of the Dark Crystal that will restore balance to their world, Co-directed by Jim Henson and starring his magnificent creatures. BD debut. Extras: commentary, picture-in-picture storyboard track, trivia game, four featurettes.

Disney Animation Collection Volume 7: Mickey’s Christmas Carol

Disney, 64 minutes, $19.99

The classic “Scrooge” story gets the Disney twist; Scrooge McDuck has the Ebenezer role, with Mickey in the Bob Cratchit role. Includes three more shorts: “Pluto’s Christmas Tree,” “The Small One” and “Santa’s Workshop.” No extras listed.

A fire chief (Kirk Cameron) who is a success at his job has a failing marriage. He turns to faith as a means of redemption. Very popular faith-based film gets its BD debut. Extras: three featurettes, music video, commentary, deleted scenes, gag reel, interviews.

Foyle’s War: From Dunkirk to VE Day (Sets 1-5)

Acorn Media, 1,920 minutes, 19 episodes, 19 discs, $149.99

Michael Kitchen is Christopher Foyle, a British chief detective for the town of Hastings. While World War II ravishes Europe, he has to solve murder mysteries that the conflict creates on the home front. Extras: interviews, making-of featurettes, production notes, historical backgrounds, photo gallery, more.

The Hills Run Red

Dark Castle Entertainment, 81 minutes, R, $19.98

A group of horror movie fans go looking for the secret location where the goriest splatter movie ever was made only to find that they are the newest stars in the film. Enter at your own risk. Extras: commentary, making-of featurette.

How I Met Your Mother: Season Four

Fox, 561 minutes, 24 episodes, 3 discs

DVD: $39.99

BD: $59.99

Fourth season of the sitcom that has Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) recounting to his kids in 2030 the events that led to the union that produced them. Extras: commentaries, recap of Season 3, gag reel, music video, two featurettes.

Labyrinth

Sony, 101 minutes, PG, $27.95 (BD)

Jennifer Connally is bored with babysitting her baby brother on a Saturday night and wishes the goblins from her favorite book would take him away. To her horror, the wish comes true. Now she has to get him back from the wicked Goblin King (David Bowie). Also stars Jim Henson’s magnificent creations. BD debut. Extras: picture-in-picture commentary, making of documentary, commentary, two featurettes.

Life on Mars: The Complete Series

ABC Studios, 731 minutes, 4 discs, $39.99

NYPD detective Sam Tyler (Jason O’Mara) gets somehow gets sent back in time to 1973 when the rules for being a NYC cop were rather different. Cop show with a science fiction premise never made it past its first season, despite its intriguing premise. Based on a British TV series of the same name (and same character names). Extras: three featurettes, blooper reel, deleted scenes.

Midsomer Murders Set 13

Acorn Media, 4 discs, $49.99

Four more mysteries featuring John Nettles as the unflappable Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby and Jason Hughes as his earnest protégé, Detective Sergeant Ben Jones.

Dreamworks’ CGI takeoff on 1950s monsters and alien invader movies, complete with references to “Dr. Strangelove,” “Attack of the 50-Foot Woman,” “The Blob,” “Swamp Thing” and more. Interesting idea, but I found the film didn’t quite live up to its trailer. My three-year-old daughter loved it, though, so I suppose I’ll be watching it over and over again for the next few weeks. Perhaps it will grow on me. Extras: deleted scenes, music videos, commentary, two featurettes, sneak peeks at other DreamWorks films. Two-disc DVD adds new short film, “B.O.B.’s Big Break” in 2D and 3D, Karaoke videos, DVD-ROM features. BD adds picture-in-picture commentary, trivia track.

A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa

Disney, 56 minutes, $19.99

Gonzo takes it upon himself to ensure that three letters get to Santa before Christmas, and enlists the rest of the Muppet gang to help. Made-for-TV movie also stars Whoopi Goldberg, Nathan Lane and Uma Thurman, among others. Extras: 10 minutes of extra footage and bloopers, music video, deleted scenes, featurette.

National Geographic Ultimate High-Definition Collection

National Geographic/Warner Bros., 460 minutes, 6 discs, $84.99 (BD)

Six films from National Geographic in a BD set: “Atmospheres: Earth, Air & Water,” “Relentless Enemies,” “Kingdom of the Blue Whale,” “Rhino Rescue,” “Extreme” and “Journey to the Edge of the Universe.” Extras: “Cheetah Chase,” “Wild Chronicles: Whales,” “The Making of Extreme,” photo galleries.

Secret Policeman’s Balls: The Secret Policeman Rocks!

Shout! Factory, 60 minutes, $14.99

If the British humor of Monty Python and On the Fringe put you off from buying “The Secret Policeman’s Balls” earlier this year, but you like the music, here’s your chance to get that. All of the musical performances from the five films are here, plus a new 80-minute documentary. Most of the music world’s charitable contributions were inspired from this small beginning, to include USA for Africa and Live Aid. I still recommend the original box set, though.

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies

Warner Bros., 67 minutes, PG-13

2-disc Special Edition DVD with Digital Copy: $24.98

BD with Digital Copy: $29.99

Lex Luthor has been elected President of the United States, and he uses the power to put the Justice League in the government’s service. Only two stand against this idea, Superman and Batman. This gives Lex the impetus he needs to have them declared Public Enemies, and he declares a $1 billion bounty on their heads. I’m not much for cartoon comic book movies, but this one does have an intriguing premise. Extras: four featurettes, two episodes of “Justice League Unlimited.” BD adds two more episodes.

Traffik: 20th Anniversary Edition

Acorn Media, 315 minutes, 6 episodes, 2 discs, $39.99

British mini-series served inspiration for the Steven Soderbergh Oscar-winning film covers the international drug trade and what it does to ordinary people and the powerful. Remastered. Extras: interviews, extended version of Episode 6, photo gallery, production notes, cast filmographies.

The Unit: Complete Gift Set

Fox, 3,171 minutes, 69 episodes, 19 discs, $199.98

The Unit: Season Four

Fox, 1,038 minutes. 21 episodes

DVD, 6 discs: $59.98

BD, 5 discs: $69.99

A group of Special Forces soldiers operate covertly in order to solve world-wide mysteries. Extras: deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, more.

Winnie The Pooh: Seasons of Giving – 10th Anniversary Edition

Disney, 63 minutes, $29.99

Winnie the Pooh and friends seek the meaning of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Hmm, did anyone tell the British that their beloved Pooh was celebrating an American holiday? Includes a Christmas stocking. Extras: two new Pooh episodes, five songs.

The Wizard of Oz: 70th Anniversary

Warner Bros., 102 minutes

2-disc Special Edition DVD: $24.98

Ultimate Collector’s Edition DVD (5 discs): $69.92

Ultimate Collector’s Edition BD (5 discs): $84.99

The classic story gets another special edition release, an upgrade over the 2005 restored version. Extras: featurette on the restoration, commentary track, cast profiles, Karaoke track, documentary, outtakes, deleted scenes, radio programs, interviews, animated story book. New for this edition is a documentary on the director, Victor Fleming; featurette on the Munchkins star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; TV movie on the life of author Frank L. Baum; several other interpretations of the film. The limited edition Collector box sets (243,000 numbered editions) include a 52-page book, copy of the film’s budget, a 70th anniversary watch and a replica campaign booklet for theater owners.